THE COMMUNITY BUYOUT of the island of Ulva has taken a major step forward after being awarded £4.4m from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF).

Plans for the buyout received the endorsement of Ulva residents, as well as those who fall under the membership area of the North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC) in a postal ballot this January, after it was put on the market by current owner Jamie Howard.

The NWMCWC – the first group to register an interest in buying an island under the Scottish Government’s Community Right to Buy legislation - was faced with raising £4.2m to purchase the Inner Hebrides island. Following its boost from the SLF, the woodland company must now agree terms with Howard by 9 June in order to complete the buyout.

Colin Morrison, the chairman of the NWMCWC, said: “This award from the Scottish Land Fund is hugely significant, not only for Ulva but also more broadly for north-west Mull.